Where is our Chief
Secretary?
Pushkin - Daughter of the Commandant
"
Then turning to the people, he pointed out Chvabrine.
"There, children," said he, "is your new Commandant; obey him in all
things; he answers to me for you and the fort. "
I heard these words with affright. Chvabrine become master of the place!
Marya remained in his power! Good God! what would become of her?
Pugatchef came down the steps, his horse was brought round, he sprang
quickly into the saddle, without waiting for the help of the Cossacks
prepared to aid him.
At this moment I saw my Saveliitch come out of the crowd, approach
Pugatchef, and present him with a sheet of paper. I could not think what
it all meant.
"What is it? " asked Pugatchef, with dignity.
"Deign to read it, and you will see," replied Saveliitch.
Pugatchef took the paper and looked at it a long time with an air of
importance. At last he said--
"You write very illegibly; our lucid[60] eyes cannot make out anything.
Where is our Chief Secretary? "
A youth in a corporal's uniform ran up to Pugatchef.
"Read it aloud," the usurper said to him, handing him the paper.
I was extremely curious to know on what account my retainer had thought
of writing to Pugatchef. The Chief Secretary began in a loud voice,
spelling out what follows--
"Two dressing gowns, one cotton, the other striped silk, six roubles. "
"What does that mean? " interrupted Pugatchef, frowning.
"Tell him to read further," rejoined Saveliitch, quite unmoved.
The Chief Secretary continued to read--
"One uniform of fine green cloth, seven roubles; one pair trousers,
white cloth, five roubles; twelve shirts of Holland shirting, with
cuffs, ten roubles; one box with tea service, two-and-a-half roubles. "
"What is all this nonsense? " cried Pugatchef. "What do these tea-boxes
and breeches with cuffs matter to me? "
Saveliitch cleared his throat with a cough, and set to work to explain
matters.
"Let my father condescend to understand that that is the bill of my
master's goods which have been taken away by the rascals. "
"What rascals? " quoth Pugatchef, in a fierce and terrible manner.
Then turning to the people, he pointed out Chvabrine.
"There, children," said he, "is your new Commandant; obey him in all
things; he answers to me for you and the fort. "
I heard these words with affright. Chvabrine become master of the place!
Marya remained in his power! Good God! what would become of her?
Pugatchef came down the steps, his horse was brought round, he sprang
quickly into the saddle, without waiting for the help of the Cossacks
prepared to aid him.
At this moment I saw my Saveliitch come out of the crowd, approach
Pugatchef, and present him with a sheet of paper. I could not think what
it all meant.
"What is it? " asked Pugatchef, with dignity.
"Deign to read it, and you will see," replied Saveliitch.
Pugatchef took the paper and looked at it a long time with an air of
importance. At last he said--
"You write very illegibly; our lucid[60] eyes cannot make out anything.
Where is our Chief Secretary? "
A youth in a corporal's uniform ran up to Pugatchef.
"Read it aloud," the usurper said to him, handing him the paper.
I was extremely curious to know on what account my retainer had thought
of writing to Pugatchef. The Chief Secretary began in a loud voice,
spelling out what follows--
"Two dressing gowns, one cotton, the other striped silk, six roubles. "
"What does that mean? " interrupted Pugatchef, frowning.
"Tell him to read further," rejoined Saveliitch, quite unmoved.
The Chief Secretary continued to read--
"One uniform of fine green cloth, seven roubles; one pair trousers,
white cloth, five roubles; twelve shirts of Holland shirting, with
cuffs, ten roubles; one box with tea service, two-and-a-half roubles. "
"What is all this nonsense? " cried Pugatchef. "What do these tea-boxes
and breeches with cuffs matter to me? "
Saveliitch cleared his throat with a cough, and set to work to explain
matters.
"Let my father condescend to understand that that is the bill of my
master's goods which have been taken away by the rascals. "
"What rascals? " quoth Pugatchef, in a fierce and terrible manner.
